Jack Ma (M), co-founder of Alibaba, returns to Hangzhou Normal University (HNU), his alma mater, on June 18 to learn about the university's progress in education and research. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, returned to Hangzhou Normal University (HNU), his alma mater, on June 18 to learn about the university's progress in education and research.

Upon his arrival, he visited the university's education training center for teachers and talked with students there. He also attended a lecture delivered by Professor Chen Zuomian on teaching skills.

During his talk with students majoring in pedagogy, he said that a teacher's responsibility is to find out what makes each student unique.

"Teachers should encourage students to think about the future, give them hope for a better life, and encourage them to confront challenges."

He also said that he would continue to dedicate himself to education and expressed hope that HNU students majoring in education would work harder with their university to improve the influence of HNU's pedagogy major.

Jack Ma (R) talks with a student majoring in pedagogy in a classroom at Hangzhou Normal University on June 18. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Ma also answered questions from students about how to improve their oral English and communication abilities.

At a subsequent meeting, Chen Chunlei, Party secretary of HNU, and Shang Yongfeng, president of HNU, thanked Ma for his long-term support for his alma mater.

They stressed that the pedagogy discipline has long been a mainstay at HNU, and the university plans to continue improving the management and influence of the discipline.

University representatives expressed hope that Jack Ma would continue supporting his alma mater and that both sides would work to strengthen cooperation in the training of teachers in rural areas, the construction of business schools, and scientific research.

At the meeting, HNU leaders also gifted a T-shirt featuring Jack Ma's student number at HNU and HNU's school logo to Ma.

Ma also visited his alma mater's school of music and talked with Lyu Wei, director of the school's committee of art and a well-known singer. Ma expressed a desire to cooperate and contribute to the improvement of musical education at HNU.

Hangzhou Normal University leaders present a T-shirt to Jack Ma following a meeting on June 18. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]